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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Talks held on power takeover bid | Talks held on power takeover bid |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| "Constructive" talks have taken place between the first minister and senior figures from the Spanish company seeking to take over Scottish Power. | "Constructive" talks have taken place between the first minister and senior figures from the Spanish company seeking to take over Scottish Power. |
| It was announced last week that energy giant Iberdrola had launched a £11.6bn bid for the Glasgow-based utility firm. | It was announced last week that energy giant Iberdrola had launched a £11.6bn bid for the Glasgow-based utility firm. |
| First Minister Jack McConnell said he was seeking assurances over jobs from Iberdrola company chiefs. | |
| The firm's president, Ignacio Galan, told him Iberdrola would retain corporate headquarters in Scotland. | The firm's president, Ignacio Galan, told him Iberdrola would retain corporate headquarters in Scotland. |
| Mr McConnell said the meeting on Tuesday morning had gone well. | Mr McConnell said the meeting on Tuesday morning had gone well. |
| Mr Galan also met the Scottish National Party deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon. | |
| She said she had "expressed reservations" about any takeover of Scottish Power and would continue to monitor developments. | |
| The Iberdrola representative also met Tory deputy leader and enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser and Glasgow Conservative MSP Bill Aitken, who said they were reassured by what they heard. | |
| We received some welcome assurances on the retention of Scottish Power's identity and Iberdrola's commitment to renewable energy Nicola SturgeonSNP deputy leader | |
| Last week Philip Bowman, the chief executive of Scottish Power, told Mr McConnell and Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen that jobs would not be lost in the Spanish takeover. | Last week Philip Bowman, the chief executive of Scottish Power, told Mr McConnell and Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen that jobs would not be lost in the Spanish takeover. |
| Mr Bowman also gave them assurances on other issues such as future investment and renewable energy plans. | Mr Bowman also gave them assurances on other issues such as future investment and renewable energy plans. |
| Iberdrola said the takeover would be a positive move for employees and customers and that it would keep Scottish Power's offices in the UK, where it employs about 9,500 people. | Iberdrola said the takeover would be a positive move for employees and customers and that it would keep Scottish Power's offices in the UK, where it employs about 9,500 people. |
| The company is a major employer in the Cathcart area of Glasgow. | The company is a major employer in the Cathcart area of Glasgow. |
| Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "My main concerns are those of the people who work in Cathcart, some 1,700 of them. | Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "My main concerns are those of the people who work in Cathcart, some 1,700 of them. |
| "This is a time of uncertainty for them and I'm looking for reassurances about the future of their jobs. | "This is a time of uncertainty for them and I'm looking for reassurances about the future of their jobs. |
| "The more of us who seek to have these reassurances firmed up, the better position we'll be in to hold the company to account in future if the deal goes through. | "The more of us who seek to have these reassurances firmed up, the better position we'll be in to hold the company to account in future if the deal goes through. |
| "We have to face up to the reality of the situation." | "We have to face up to the reality of the situation." |
| Renewable investment | Renewable investment |
| Scottish Power supplies power to 5.2 million homes and profits for the six months to 30 September jumped 77% to £483m. | Scottish Power supplies power to 5.2 million homes and profits for the six months to 30 September jumped 77% to £483m. |
| Nationalists have previously called for the takeover to be blocked, pending an EU investigation into Spanish tax subsidies. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "We received some welcome assurances on the retention of Scottish Power's identity and Iberdrola's commitment to renewable energy. | |
| "However, although they seemed optimistic about retaining Scottish Power's workforce at its current level, they could not give categoric assurances. | |
| "We will continue to monitor developments and, at all time, argue for Scotland's national interest to come first." | |
| The Scottish Conservatives also met the Iberdrola representatives. | |
| Deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "Generally we were reassured by what we heard. | Deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "Generally we were reassured by what we heard. |
| "As far as jobs were concerned, there is no immediate threat and Senor Galan was keen to stress that the headquarters function would be retained in Glasgow, because of the separate legal and regulatory framework that Scottish Power would be working under." | "As far as jobs were concerned, there is no immediate threat and Senor Galan was keen to stress that the headquarters function would be retained in Glasgow, because of the separate legal and regulatory framework that Scottish Power would be working under." |